Suction cleaning apparatus



Sept. 18, 1956 L. E. SEGESMAN SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Oct. 24, 1950 il v INVENTOH. Louis E Seyeaman ATTORNEY.

SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24, 1950 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

43 Louis E Seyesman 65 72 7 a" as: '1 r r m Hg 4 ATTORNEY.

Sept. 18, 1956 SEGESMAN 2,763,025

SUCTION CLEANING APPARA'ITUS Filed Oct. 24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOH. Louis E Swesman BY 5," ATTORNEY.

United States SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Application October 24, 1950,Serial No. 191,748

6 Claims. (Cl. 15337) The present invention relates to suction cleaningapparatuses and particularly those of the type in which the suction airfan, motor, handle assembly, fan casing, filter and support bearingsform a complete sub-assembly which is attached as a unit to a main framecontaining the nozzle, air duct, wheel supporting structure andagitator.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a suctioncleaner of the foregoing character in which the main casting may beprovided with upwardly facing, preferably plane, surfaces which locate,align and support the sub-assembly bearings on which the handle, motor,fan, fan casing and filter pivot.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a suctioncleaner of the above described character having a conversion structurefor converting the apparatus to ofi-the-floor cleaning which is a partof the sub-assembly structure embodying the motor fan unit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a suctioncleaner of the above described character having a readily removableplate structure to allow access to the belt tunnel from underneath thecleaner for repair and replacement.

The present invention is particularly designed to provide a suctioncleaner of the above described character in which the main body portionconsists of a simple casting which does not directly house any of themechanical elements of the cleaner except the rotary agitating elementmounted in the nozzle. All the mechanical elements of the cleaner properare housed in a sub-assembly which may be completely produced and testedbefore assembly with the main casting. In this way, the completemechanical assembly is made and tested after which it is properlyassembled onto the main casting and very simply secured in properalignment in operative condition. The foregoing construction permitssimple manufacture and very facile adjustment, repair and replacement ofparts after the apparatus has been in use. Additionally, the belting isso arranged that ready access to the belt is provided without disturbingthe mounting of the power plant upon the main body portion of thecleaner by means of a removable plate in the bottom portion of the airtunnel, between the nozzle and suction fan formed in the main casting.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom view of an apparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 2-2 ofFigure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 1 taken along the line 3-3looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 3 lookingin the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus in Figure 1 with certainportions broken away and sectioned to illustrate a bearing construction.

atet

Referring now to the drawing in detail, my apparatus comprises a maincasting, generally U-shaped in plan, having a top wall structure 10merging into a depending front wall 11 and right and left hand sidewalls 12 and 13, respectively. The front wall 11 of the cleaner alsoforms the front wall of the nozzle and agitating chamber 14. The rearwall of the chamber 14 is formed in part by a wall structure 15extending from the left hand end of the machine, as viewed in Figure 1,to a point well to the right of the center line thereof and anglingslightly toward the rear of the machine. The wall 15 then curvesrearwardly and merges into the rearwardly extending wall 18 which joinsa vertically extending bracket 16 depending from the top wall 10 of themain casting and forming the right hand rear .side wall of the maincasting. The wall 18 is provided with a half-round cut-out portion 17adjacent its rear end to form a fan eye to be described more fullyhereinafter. The right hand rear wall of chamber 14, as viewed in Figure1, is defined by a partition wall 19 depending from the top wall 10 ofthe main casting and joining a wall 20 extending toward the rear inparallel spaced relationship to the wall 18. The wall 20 may berelatively shallow at its rear portion at which point it' curves to theleft, as viewed in Figure 1, to join the wall 18 adjacent the rearmostportion of the main casting. A removable plate 22 is secured to theunder side of the main casting by means of studs 23 threaded intosuitable bosses formed in the walls 15, 18, 19 and 20. The plate 22forms a rear nozzle lip for the suction nozzle opening of the cleaner,abuts the lower end of the walls 15 and 19 to seal the same and forms aclosure for the space between the curved portions of the walls 15 and 19to define a suction air passage leading from the nozzle proper,backwardly to the space between the walls 18 and 20.

The remaining portion of the Open bottom of the space between theparallel walls 18 and 20 is closed by a plate 25 extending from ajunction with the plate 22 to the rear of the apparatus. The forward endof the plate 25 is supported by a shoulder 26 on the rear edge of theplate 22. The outer right hand side wall of the plate 25, as viewed inFigures 1 and 2, is provided with a channel section 28 carrying sealinggasket material such as felt 29 which bears upon the lower edge of thewall 20 to make an air seal therewith. The left hand edge of the plate25 is provided with a step or shoulder 30 which underlies an outwardlyprojecting flange 31 on the wall 18 and bears upon air sealing gasketmaterial such as felt 32 to form an air seal between the members 25 and18. The plate 25 is secured in position by a thumb nut and stud 25awhich extends through a suitable opening in the plate 25 and threadsinto a boss on the main casting.

A nozzle lip plate 33 extends along the bottom edge of the front wall 11of the main casting and the side walls 12 and 13 to a junction with theleading edge of the plate 22, wherefor the leading edge of the plate 22and the plate 23 define front, rear and side nozzle lips for a cleaningnozzle opening indicated generally at 34. A rotary brushing andagitating member of a known type is rotatably mounted within the maincasting just above the nozzle opening 34 in a position such that theagitating and brushing elements of the member 35 will engage a fabricpulled up to the nozzle lip by suction action to impart a beating andbrushing action to such fabric.

As shown most clearly in Figure 3, the right hand rearwardly extendingportion of the top wall 10 is provided with a depending L-shaped section36 joining the wall 20 and the top wall 10.

As shown most clearly in Figure 2, the upper edge of the wall 18 is flatexcept for the half-round cut-out 17 at 37 at the front thereof for apurpose to be developed hereinafter. The horizontal portion of the wall36 is Patented Sept. 18, 1956'- parallel to and in spaced relation withthe wall 18 having its upper face in the plane of the upper edge of thewall 1837 except that there is no portion corresponding to thehalf-round cut-out 17. V

The left hand, rearwardly extending section of the wall 10, as viewed inFigure 3, joins a depending wall member 40 having a step section 41 wellbelow the plane of the top wall 10.

As shown most clearly in Figure 4, the step 41 includes a pair of flatsurfaces 42 and 43 at different elevations which are joined by a curvedsection which forms the segment of a circle. The lower depending section25 of the wall structure 40 extends forwardly to a junction with therear face of the wall but considerably above the level of the bottomends of walls 11, 12 and 13.

The rear portion of the wall structure 40 terminates in a rearwardlyfacing wall structure 46 positioned in spaced relation to the wall 16and coplanar therewith. Rear wheels and mounting brackets therefor 47are attached to the rear wall 16 and 46.

Front wheels 48 are pivotally mounted on the outer angularly bent endsof a front wheel supporting shaft 49. The'central portion of the shaft49 is carried by a bearing plate 50 secured to the forward portion ofthe wall 45 by means of a stud 51. A bearing 52 also supports the shaft49. The bearing 52 has a plate portion 52a underlying the rear edge ofthe plate 22 and is secured by the two rear studs 23. A suitablemechanism, not shown, will be provided for rocking the shaft 49 in thebearings 50 and 52 to raise and lower the wheels 48 with respect to themain casting for purposes of nozzle adjustment in a manner which is wellunderstood in this art.

The motor and fan casting portion of the air passageway is a unitarystructure. An electric motor is encased within a suitable housing 53 andis provided with a shaft 54 terminating in a pulley 55. The shaft 54extends through the motor housing into and through a fan chamber and airduct housing 56 which encases a suitable suction air fan 57. The fan 57discharges through a passage 58 which communicates with a suitable dirtfilter 59. A manipulating handle 59a is rigidly attached to the combinedmotor and fan chamber structure 53, 56.

The end of the motor housing is provided with an annular journal 60within which is rotatably mounted a suitable bearing member having aprojecting portion 61 which is received in a pressed metal bearing andmounting structure 62 having a central boss 63 receiving the projectingmember 61. It will be apparent, from Figures 3 and 4, that the member 62is provided with upper and lower axially projecting flanges 64 and 65,respectively, which extend axially inwardly toward the motor housing tooverlie the outer end of the bearing structure 60. The lower flange 65is shaped to conform to the curved section 41 of the wall 40 withoutseating tightly thereagainst and is provided with accurately locatedparallel end sections 66 and 67 which seat upon the flat locatingsurfaces 42 and 43, respectively, to locate the center of the bearingstructures accurately vertically and horizontally with respect to thelocating surfaces 42 and 43. The bearing structure 62 is secured to themain casting by means of studs 68 passing through the plates 66 and 67and threaded into the wall structure 40.

A heavy torsion spring 69 is wound about the bearing structure 60 inspaced relation thereto, having one out-' 4 13, 1950, now Patent2,671,924, granted March 16, 1954.

A small stiff compression spring is wrapped about the flange 63, bearingstructure 62 and the outer face of the bearing 61 for a purpose to bedescribed hereinafter.

The outer face of the fan chamber and air duct structure 56 is providedwith a central air inlet opening 76. A ring-shaped bearing member '77,which is U-shaped in cross section, is secured to the outer face of thehousing 56 concentrically with the opening 76 and bears on a ring-shapedbearing member 78 which is L-shaped in cross section and is securedwithin a ring-shaped casting 8%. Ring-shaped felts 81 and 82 are securedbetween the casting 8t) and the outer face of the housing 56 and thebearing member 77, respectively, to provide an air seal around the faninlet opening while permitting the motor fan housing structure, as awhole, to rotate on the bearing 78.

The ring-shaped casting has an air duct and converter passageway formingmember 83, L-shaped in cross section, formed integrally therewith. Themember 83 is concentric with the opening 76 at the rear of the cleanerstructure and then projects forwardly to a point just beyond the outerlimits of the housing 56, as shown in Figure 2. The member 83 bears uponand has air sealing engagement with the upper edges of the walls 18 and37 to the junction of these parts with the top wall 10 at the front ofthe machine just rearwardly of and above the brushing and agitatingmember 35. The member 83 also has a laterally projecting flange 84 atits rear and sideiportions which seats upon the flat locating surfaceportions of the wall 36 in air sealing engagement therewith. A pluralityof studs 84a extend through the flange 84 and are threaded into the wall36 to secure and locate the structure 80 to 84. At the front of themachine, the member 83 terminates in a tubular portion, having a bottomwall member 85 seating upon an edge of the top wall- 10 of the maincasting. The tubular portion of the'memer 33 terminates in an an ularlypositioned'opening 86 above the front portion of the machine which isadapted to receive a suitable tool for converting the cleaning apparatusto otf-the-floor cleaning. A gate 87 is pivotally mounted upona pintle88 secured in the opposite'lateral side wall of the tubular portion ofthe'member 83 and in an upwardly projecting recess 89 formed inthemember 83. A torsion spring 90 engaged between the gate 87 and asuitable opening in the wall of the recess 89 urges the gate 87 to theclosed position illustrated in Figure 2, in which it blocks entryway tothe interior of the member 83 in air sealed relation.

The upper surface of the horizontal portion of the plate 36 and theflange 84 are so dimensioned as to position the bearing structure withinthe ring casting 80 in alignment with the bearing structure 61 at'theopposite end of the combined motor fan housing structure. In this way,the surfaces 42, 43 and the upper horizontal portion of the wall 36 maybe formed accurately in parallel relationship and stud receiving holesin the-element accurately located. When this is doneytheentire motor fanand pivot bearing assembly will be accurately located in respect to themain casting.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the top wall 10 of the maincasting, the plate 22, the plate 25, the walls 15, 13, 19 and 20 of themain casting and the extension structures? of the bearing supportingcasting 80 define an air passageway extending from the floor nozzleopening 34 to the air inlet of the fan 57. It is also apparent that asuitable tool, inserted through the opening 86 in the gate 87 intoengagement with the plate 25, will corn 1 pletely cut off the nozzle 34and convert the apparatus for otf-the-floor cleaning. This tool has notbeen illustrated herein as such devices are well'lmown in the art. Asuitable drive belt 92 extends through the air passageway from the drivepulley 55 to-the rotary agitatingand brushing structure 35 to drive thesame. The plate 25 is readily removed from the apparatus by theremovalof the thumb nut 25a to permit access to the belt for servicing orchanging.

The portion of the wall 18 which i below the removable plate 25 isprovided with an inwardly turned flange 93 underlying the ring casting80 and air sealed with respect thereto by means of a tubular gasket 94.

The spring 75 constantly urges the entire motor fan assembly to theright, as viewed in Figure 3, to maintain an axial thrust bearingrelationship between the bearing elements 77 and 78 to assist inmaintaining an air seal at this point and to prevent the power plantassernbly from chattering in its support bearings.

Though not shown, a suitable decorative hood of plastic or like materialmay be mounted over the casting to cover and conceal the bearingmounting and rotatable parts of the motor fan construction except forthe portion to which the handle is directly connected.

My present construction permits the entire power plant of the cleanerconsisting of the handle, motor, fan, fan housing, discharge duct andfilter support, converting housing and pivot bearings for the handle tobe assembled completely as a sub-assembly, accurately positioned on themain casting and secured thereto as a unit by means of a few securingstuds here shown as six in number.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaning apparatus, a body member having a front portionforming a suction air cleaning nozzle and spaced apart sectionsextending rearwardly from said nozzle at opposite sides thereof, one ofsaid sections having spaced wall members adapted to form inner and outerwalls of a suction air passage communicating with said nozzle, aremovable plate forming the bottom of said air passageway, an upwardlyfacing seat on each of said sections rearwardly of said nozzle, a powerunit comprising a housing, a motor driven suction air fan in saidhousing and bearing members rotatably supporting said housing atopposite ends thereof, support members secured to said bearing membersand resting on said seats, means detachably securing said supportmembers to said body member, and one of said support members including aportion extending forwardly of said body member in engagement with theupper edges of said walls to define the top wall of said air passageway.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said extending portion ofsaid support terminates in a tubular extension opening above said bodymember and communicating with said air passageway, and a spring closedgate in said tubular member to prevent air flow therethrough.

3. Suction cleaning apparatus comprising a one-piece body member havingwalls at the front thereof defining an open bottom suction nozzleextending across the front of said body member and spaced sectionsextending rearwardly from said nozzle at opposite sides thereof, one ofsaid sections having spaced walls forming an air duct communicating withsaid nozzle and extending rearwardly thereof and being open at its topand bottom rearwardly of said nozzle, a removable plate attached to saidone section and closing the open bottom por tion of said air duct, saidside sections having upwardly facing aligned seats in the facing sidesthereof positioned in spaced relation to said nozzle, a power unithousing, a motor fan unit in said housing, a manipulating handleattached to said housing, a bearing and supporting structure at oppositeends of said housing, each of said bearing structures including asupport member rotatably engaged with a bearing member fixed to saidhousing,

said support members having exterior portions shaped to engage in saidseats whereby said housing and hearing and supporting structures may beassembled with said body member by lowering said housing and bearingstructures into the space between said sections until said exteriorportions of said support member engage said seats, means for securingsaid support members to said body member, one of said support membershaving a forwardly projecting portion closing the open top portion ofsaid air duct, and one of said bearing structures being annular to forma continuation of said air duct into said housing.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which one of said side sections andone of said bearing structures forms a belt passageway from said housingto said nozzle, and said motor fan unit includes a pulley shaftprojecting axially thereof beyond one end of said housing and throughthe bearing member of said one bearing.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said projecting portion ofsaid one support member is formed with an opening providing for theinsertion of a converting tool into said duct, and a spring closedclosure for said opening carried by said projecting portion of said onesupport member.

6. Suction cleaning apparatus comprising a one-piece body member havinga top wall and front and side walls depending from said top wall, a rearnozzle wall member depending from said top Wall in spaced relation andparallel to said front wall to define an open bottom suction nozzleacross the front of the body member, said body member having spacedsections extending rearwardly thereof adjacent opposite ends of thenozzle to define a U-shaped opening rearwardly of the nozzle, one ofsaid sections including a pair of spaced wall members extendingrearwardly from the rear nozzle wall member to define the side walls ofan air duct from the nozzle, a removable plate detachably mounted onsaid one section and forming a bottom wall for said air duct, each ofsaid sections having upwardly facing aligned seats in the facing sidesthereof positioned rearwardly of and in spaced relation to said nozzle,a power unit housing, a motor fan unit in said housing, a manipulatinghandle attached to said housing, a bearing structure at each end of saidhousing, each of said bearing structures including a support memberengaged with a bearing member fixed to said housing and each of saidsupport members having exterior portions shaped to engage in said seatswhereby said housing and bearing and supporting structures may beassembled with said body member by lowering said housing and bearingstructures into said U-shaped opening until said exterior portions ofsaid support members engage said seats, means for securing said supportmembers to said body member, one of said support members having aforwardly projecting portion closing the open top of said air duct, andone of said bearing structures being annular to form a continuation ofsaid air duct into said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,483,977 Hoover Feb. 19, 1924 1,660,331 Frantz Feb. 28, 1928 2,140,143Sellers Dec. 13, 1938 2,246,862 Smellie June 24, 1.941 2,253,997 BeckerAug. 26, 1941 2,633,596 Turner Apr. 7, 1953

